Splicing machine



March 8, 1938, J, w, cHANNELL 2,110,287

SPLICING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. /6'

INVENTOR W CHAN/VELL March 8, 1938.

J. W. CHANNELL SPLICING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2, 1936 F/G.4. f

6 Sheets-Sheet s lNVENTOR JM'. GHANA/ELL ATZ'ORNEY March 8, 1938. J. w. CHANNELL srucme MACHINE Filed Sept. 2', l936 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 -26 9% 162 6'37'17'0 aids $834 28 FIG; 7

ATTORNEY March 3 J. w. CHANNELL 2,110,287

SPLICING MACHINE Filed Sept. 2, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. /3 w INVEIV TOR Y J. W CHAN/VELL ATTORNEY I Patented Mar. 8, 1938 I 2,110,287 v SPLIGING MAGHINE J ames W. Gli'a'nnell, WestLos Angels," Calif? Application-September 2, 1936, Serial .No; .99,'o44- 8- claims; (01. 140- -419) This inventiomrelatesto-wire:twistingappafurther twisted. After apredetermined number ratus, and particularly; to" means-.- for splicing. of twistshave beenput in the pairsof-wires a' electrical conductors, such; for example, as the latch on finger engages the twisted portion of wires of telephone cable, and isan improvementthe wires midway between-the twisting heads 5,, in .thesplicing machine which-forms; the subject and the 4 stripping mechanism, thus preventingof my'Patent No. 1;813,562:issued:-July 7,- 1931. the'wiresbeyond thelatch; or finger from being A feature. of this inventionis the. provision twisted any-further; I-I'ovvever, the twisting headsof a machine ofthis character which-will simulcontinue to rotate thereby: twisting ofi the wires; taneously make a pair of joints which arestagat=thepoint where they are-held in the twisting gered'. on straight or multiplesplices-andwhich heads. The splicedwires then leave the twist 10 will position a single insulating sleeve-over these ing mechanism, and theinsulating'sleevewhich joints by only'one' actuation of. the operating hasbeenpreviouslyplaced on the wire and in handle of the machine. Such an arrangement the sleeve slipping mechanism,v isslippedovernot only effects a. saving-in. sleeves, but materially the pairof joints and the 'wires are-then -ejected reduces the overall: size of thejoint in the cable from themachine asthelever returns to its; 15'

itself, whichis of: great importance, especiallyv normal position.

where the cable is locatedin conduits. In the drawings:

Another feature is theprovisionof twisting Fig. l -is a-perspective-view of the wiresplicing means which-twill accommodate various sizes machine in the position which it would occupy g0. ofwire. during the splicing of-a lead covered cable; I v A further feature. the provision: of means Fig. 2is-a top-planview with the-cover refor. controlling the pitchof ..the twistedjointsmoved, the operating parts in their normalposi- More specifically. in themachine-of this inven tion-and the wires to be joined in their respective tion the ends of the wires to be joined-normally. positions; extend in opposite directions andarelooselyl Fig:-3- isan endview- 01" Fig. 2 partly-in'sec- 25 held in "positionby aprojection on each endof tion and-- with; parts broken away to -show the the splicing machine.- Over theends of the pair operating-mechanism;

of wires to the right of the machine is posi- Fi5.,. 4 is atfragmentary top plan view similar tioned a cottonsleeve which will later be slipped to -Fig; Z'eXceptthat-the wires are nowin the over the joints. Each of these wiresis then. twistinghead and the surplus wire'cut' oif 30 brought through a V-shaped groove andagainst Fig.5 is an end view partly in section of-Fig. 5:; a sharp abutment which .strips the paper. from Fig. 5a isafragmentary view partlyin section the wires as they are pulled thereagainst. The of -Fig. 4 taken on-line Sim-5a; wires are then'positioned, one aboveeach of the Fig. 6- is an end--view similar to Fig. 5, but

twisting heads and -the freeendsbrought out beshowing the position of-the various parts just 35 tween a-pair of notched blades which laterserve prior-to-the completion of the splice; to cut offthe surplus wire.: Theother pair of Fig. 7 isa fragmentarytop plan view of the wires orthe-ones to'theleft of the machineare' machine at the completion ofthe splice just now positioned one in each of the V-shaped prior toits ejection;

. 9. grooves and the-papenst-ripped therefrom and Fig.8 is anend-view-of Fig; 7; 40 positioned above the twisting heads with their Fig. 9 is.-a fragmentary top plan view showing respective free ends extending.through"thecutthe sleeve slipped over the jointsand ready to tingnotches as above explained. be-ejectedy The first action which occurs in the "perforrn- Fig- 101s. a-fragmentary end view of theslipance of the twisting operation is the'operation ping. and ejecting mechanism taken on the lines 45 of a'lever'which actuates'apairof'cutting-blades ilk-l0 of Fig. 3;.

which cuts off the surplus-wire; accom- Fig. 10ais-a viewsimilar to Fig. 10 in itsoperplished by means of a=-pair of-notched* p1ates-in' ated or ejected-position; I I

whichtheends of the wirehave'been previously Fig. 11anend-viewpartly-in section of positioned. Upon continued movement of the Fig. 9; 50

operating lever the twisting. heads-.engage: their Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view partly in section respective pairs oft wires, one wire extending: taken on line -I 2-l2 of Figs 2; I V

fromaeach side of the:machine and twist them Fig. 13 is a fragmentarytop-planviewwith one-"about theother. As the movement of the the sleevecovered. joint ejected from the maoperating lever continues, the pairs of wires are chine; 55

Fig. 14 is an end view of Fig. 13: i

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken one line I5|5 of Fig.3;

.Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of a completed joint with a single pair of wires and the sleeve in a position it would assume just prior to it being slipped over the joint;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged view of the completed joint illustrating the position the two pairs of wires assume just prior ,to the slipping of. the

- sleeve, a portion of the .sleeve .ionly being shown;

'gripped"andtwisted-one about the other, the

greatesttwisting stress takes place at the point where the torque is applied. Therefore, should the twisting continue beyond a certain point the 'wire will be twisted off. In the machine of this invention, shown in Fig." 1, as in my. previous patent heretofore referred to,I have utilized this principle which results in the types of splice shown inFigsjlfi and 1'7. r f

. Byreferring to Figs. l6'and 17 it is'readily apparent that the twisted portion of the wire is notuniform-and that the ends of the pigtail are twisted very much tighter than the upper portion of the joint. j

The splicing machine of this invention is adapted for splicing two pairs of wires simultaneously, staggeringthe joints, and slipping asingle sleeve over the-two jointsas shown in Figs. 17 and 18.

Fig. 1 illustrates the splicing machine setup in position to splice together the conductors of a lead-covered telephone cable, the opposite ends of which are indicatedat l- The cabl ends l0 arebrought oppositeeachbther and spaced sufflciently far 'enoughapart to allow freedom for the splicing operation and for-the space that has to be occupied by the completed splice.

Referring to Figb'l, a pair-of clamps II' are provided having arms adapted to be tightened a'round'the cable ends II] by means-of suitable bolts. The front members ofeach of these 7 clamps have long shank portions I2 and I3 which are bent at the top to'iprovide the supporting flanges 14 and I5. Theseshank portions are provided with longitudinal slots l6 and H to permit the movement of the support for the cable splicing machine.

The support for the cable splicing machine comprises a metallic plate l8 provided at its end portions with means which engage the slots l6 and IT to prevent the vertical movement thereof. The crank bolts l9 and 25 pass downwardly through'an aperture in the -'flanges l4 and I and threadedly engage'the upstanding bosses 2| and 22 on the plate l8. The bolts l9 and20 are provided with flanges 23 and24 which engage the flanges l4 and I5 and supportthe weight of the machine; and provide means for raising and lowering it. Means for permitting longitudinal movement of the machine is provided by the slot 25 in the plate I! which has suitable bolts mounted therein (not shown).

' The splicing machine'is provided with a'base 26 which has provided therein a pair of slots over the joints in the pairs which are at right angles to the slot '25, the base being secured to the plate [8 by means of bolts which pass through both sets of slots and which may be tightened to secure the machine in any desired position.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and '7 there is pivotally "ratio (see Fig. 12) which is driven by a horizontal rack 35 which extends through the gear box and is connected to the lever arm 34 by a double pivoted and yieldable linkage which comprises a pivoted body portion 31 and a pivoted plunger 36. As shown in Fig. 12 the rack 36 drives a pinion 39 which, being integral with the large gear 40, causes it to rotate, thereby driving the pinions 4| and 42 which arein turn secured to a pair ofspaced apart horizontal spindles 43 and 44 on the'opposite ends of which are mounted the twisting heads 45 and 46. These twisting heads comprise conical shaped bodies having tangential arms extending therefrom and at the junction of the arms and the body are relatively deep slots 41 and 48. The dimensions of the twisting heads are such that thearms ,in.

rotating seize upon the pair of wires to be twisted and force them into the slots to be retained therein during the twisting operation and the formation of the splice.

- Mounted on the rear face of the gear box 35 is a fixed cutter blade 49 and a movable cutter 55 and 56 and they form a doubleshearingdevice operated by the projection '52 engaging a notch in the sliding bar 53; The angular movement of the cutter blade 50 is limited by the fact that the projection 52 leaves the notch-in the bar 53 and ridesupon the surface thereof after the cutter has severed the wire (see Fig. 5a).

Located in the rear of the shearing device just described and adjacent to the twisting heads 45 and 46 is a stationary plate 51 the function of which is described in detail below. As' shown in the various figures thetwisting heads 45 and 46 are provided with circumferential grooves and the arms on the twisters' are spaced apart a distance equal to the groove. This construction permits the use of a very simple ejecting device for dislodging the wire ends after they have been twisted off and which might stay in the longitudinal slots in the twistinghe ads, The ejecting 'device for each twisting head comprises the yieldable fingers 58 and 59.which. are positioned in the grooves of the twisting heads and held as shown in thevarious figures.

yield; therebyv removing. from. the: grooves. any wire remaining therein. a

I At the .rear. of the base 26 .and mollntt-ldv above it. is.a slideway 60.; the bottom of. which is open cated in the slideway-60sis a'carriage 6I which hasseveral parts extending downwardly through the opening in the slideway. a

One of thedownwardly projecting portions comprises a projectionBZ by meansofwhich the carriage 6-I is held in-normal position, as show-n in Figs. 1 and 2; at the right-hand side of the machine until released by the trigger 63= which is-pivotedat-64 to the portion 65 -of the slideway-60 and is held-imposition by means of a spring (not shown), -Mounted-on-the projection BZ-is a pawl iifi-"b-ywhichthe carriage BI is' moved tothe leftwhena projection on the leVerarmis engaged therewith, the operation of which-isas follows:

The upper end 34: of the 'lever-arm- 28-carries a pi-voted hook bar 6-1,- the free end of which'rides on'the arcuate track 68' which extends upwardlyfrom the baseand which comprises two levels joined by the inclined portion69. The free "end 'I0--of the bar-61 when raised up upon the righthand portion of the track 68 is adapted to engage and release the trigger 63. The hook M will then-have passed by and be in a position-to engage the pawl-66- so that when the lever arm 28-is restored to its normal position the hook 1-I will engage the pawl 66 and'carry the carriage BI to theleft within the slide-way 60; as shownin Figs. 13 and 14, until the hook portion which is riding on the upper level of the track drops down to the lower level over the inclined portion 69. This causes the hook TI -'to be disengaged from'the pawl fitthereby permitting the carriage BI to be restored to its normal position "at the right-of the machine by means of the spring I2: The projection 62'will then engage the trigger (is thereby completing the cycle of operation. 7 Located at the central portion of the slideway 60 are the upstanding lugs I3 and 14' which are provided with blunt edges I5 and I6. A plate 'I'I, having'a pair of notches IS'and I9, is mounted on the carriage 61; one edge of each notch being in alignment with the edges 15 and I6 of thelugs I3 and 'I4. These edges provide a means for" breaking the paper insulation on the. wires I I5 and HT when the wires are bent therearound thereby permitting the insulation to be readily stripped from the wires to be joined. I

At the right-hand end of the carriage BI is mounted a. combined sleeve holding and ejecting device. The mechanism is. pivoted to th e carriage at and has an upstanding lug 8| andatri'gger 82 is pivotally mounted on the outside face of said lug and has a. horizontal notch 83 therein which is in alignment with the notch 84 inthe lug 8|. Located on the left end of the slideway 60 is an arm 85 having a notched lug 8E-mounted thereon. The ejecting mechanism is confined between the two rails 8'! and 88. of theslideway and bears against the inner side of rail88. The cut-out portion 89 on the ejection mechanism is adapted to engage. a projection on the rail 80,. which causes the ejecting device to pivot about, the bearing 80, allowing the -trigger-82 -t0 release, thereby permitting the ejectingv device to push, the wire away from-themachine, as shown. in Fig. 9. At thetime thisiaction. occurs the arm. 85 is alsocaused tomove outwardly bythe actionv of a projection Onthecarriage .as shownin Fig. 9.

Slidably 10 The ejecting elements are restored to their nore mal:position. as showniinsEig. Whenthe lever arm zfllrisreturned-againstitsrstop 31.1 The mechanism for keeping,theyejected;wire away;from the twisting mechanism comprises. the plate .90.: shown in dot; and .dash and .fulL-lines in; the various figures, whichihast provided thereon. thev upstandingportions SI .and :9 2:;which When in normal position project upwardly. about; the, slidewa-yrfifl', as shown in Figs.. 3; 5;. n -8 Thisiplatei. is .pivotally mounted at its end 90, on; the rear face ofthe. side wall 93; at 941and.is.n0r-.- mally held in itsraisedposition, asshown. in Figs.v 1; 3,- 5, 6.:and=81by=means ofthespringrllli, one: end. of Which-is. secured to. the.- under side. of l the slideway. 60. and :the. other; endssecured ,to the plate. 90. Securedtothe lower-inside edge of the. plate =istatflat spring. member. 96 :whichprojectsaa slight" distance. below the lower edge. of; the: plate. When thehandleuzfllisoperatedandthe; lever arm 28 moves the pivoted hook bar li Ifto the righton the. track 68:.the hook II ontheyfree end I0 slides under-the= spring member 955; asshown on .Figs. G and 7*. When the. lever. arm ;28z returns-to its normal position and the bar. 6T movesto the-leftthe hook II engages the spring. member 96 and causes the plate 90 to bedee pressed. See Figs. 11'and'12; This action-isjust prior tothe time'that the wiresare ejected from. the machine by the: ejecting device heretofore; described; After the carriageGI hasmoved-the full'distance to the left the hook II. slides off the spring 96-thereby permitting the plate 90'lto be restored to its-normal positiondue to-the ao-' tion-of the spring Si -thereby holding the spliced wireszaway from the'twisting-mechanism.

Mounted on theend 34 of the lever arm 284s a horizontal bar 91. This-bar is-pivotally secured bymeansof a-linkmember-98 to the end 34' by meansof the stud99; and is slidably mounted in suitable-guides on the-interior-of the base 26 and is adapted-tobe-moved-to the right :or to the left, simultaneously with the operation of the other arms'and devices associatedwith the lever arm. 285- Mounted on thebar-BTis-aboss I00; This boss is provided with high and low portions IM and I02 and is longitudinally adjustable with -respect to the bar 91, said boss being secured in the desired position by means of thescrews I03. Pivotally mounted on the extending-portion I04- of the slideway 60 directly in back of the twisting heads 45 and 46 and in alignment therewith are a pair of fingers I05 and I06; provided with projecting-portions I01 and I 08. The lower-ends of these fingers project through suitable openings in the member I04 andare joined at their lower ends by means'of the linkbar I 09. The. lower end of the-finger! 06 extends some distance below the bar I09 andis provided witha shoe I I0 which is adapted to engage the boss-l00 when the bar I09 isoperated bymeans of the 1ever:arm.28. When-theshoe llflacontacts the high spot IOI ofthe boss. I Wait causes the. link bar; I 09- to move to theleft as shown in Fig. 5, which causes the fingersI05 andI06" to pivot aboutrtheir axis III and ,I I2 vtherebybringing the projecting. portions. I01. and I08 down into contact withthe anvils -I I 3 and I as shown in Fig.5. The fingers remain. in; this positionduring the .time. the shoe, IIO is riding .on the high spot {I 0I on' the'boss I 00; As the boss I00'and the bar 91 move'further to the left the shoe IIO drops down to-the low spot'I02 on the boss- I00-as shown-in Figs, 6, Wand-.38. When thisoccursthe projections I 01' and I 08-of the fingers I05 and I06 leave the surfaceof the anvils H3" and H4 andassume the position as shown in Fig. 6. When the lever 91 returns to its normal position the-shoe IIO rides back on the surface of the boss I00 and drops down into its normal position against the stop I I5 as shown in Figs. 3, Hand 14 thereby completing the cycle of The support for the machine, which. is the plate I I6, is. secured to the cable ends by means'of the clamps II and the machine is secured in position on the plate by means of bolts (not shown) which pass through aligned slots in the base 26 of the plate I8.

. Assuming that two pairs of conductors such as H6 and I Hate to be spliced simultaneously, the

right-hand pairI I6 are untwisted and an insulating sleeve H6 is slid thereover as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3;"4, 5, 6, '7 and 8. The thus separated conductors are now placed in the notches I8 and 19 of the plate." andbent around the blunt edges I5 and I6 of the lugs I3 and 14, which fractures the paper insulation and permits its ready removal and leaves the wires bare in a condition for splicing. The bared portion of the, conductors is then drawntoward the front of the machine and positioned in the notches in the cutting blades 49 and and are then bent around these notches at right angles and under the lugs on the cutting blade 49 to maintain them in position. The corresponding pairof conductors I I1 located on the left-hand side of the machine are treated in-a similar manner, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. We now have two pairs; ofwires positioned-inzthe' machine ready for splicing, which will be insulated by means of a single sleeve. This is accomplished by the operation of the handle 29 which in turn operates the leverarm 28 which causes the functioning of the devices hereinafter described. M

-When the handle 29 is pulled toward the operator the lever arm 28 moves to the right due to. The lever arm'28 moving to the,

the linkage 30. right causes the rack bar 36 also to move to the right, and" being in mesh with the pinion- 39drives the large gear 40 which in turn drives the twisting gears 4| and 42 causing the twister heads 45 and 46 to rotate clockwise as viewed from the front of the machine. When this action takesplace the projecting arms on the twisting heads engagethe wires and cause-them to be forced in the bottom of the slots 41 and 48 on the twisting heads 45- and 46, in order to hold them firmlyduring" the twisting. operation. At the time the twisting heads start their rotation the movable blade 50 rotates about its axis Si by means of the sliding bar 53fwhich is secured'to theleverarm 28 by means of the link 54. This bar 53 h'asa projection thereon which engages the blade and causes the shearing off of 'the wires which have been previously placed in slots of the cutting blades and so. The'twister heads '45 and 46 continueto revolve and tightly twist the wires andafter a predetermined number oftwists have been given to the wires the fingers I05 and I9 er m ed d wnwardl ea t o r su on thewires by firmly holding them against the,

anvils II3 and H4.

- The fingers I05 and I06 are operated by means of a cam-shaped projection on the base I00 which has high and low spots IM and I02 thereon to provide the proper time interval. This boss is mounted on the bar 91 which in turn is operated by means of the leverarm 28. i v

During this operation the twister, heads 45 and 46 continue to rotateuntil the wires are twisted ofi to form the pigtail splice as shown in Figs. 16 and. 17, the short piece of wire remaining in the twister slots being ejected therefrom by means of the ejecting fingers 58 and 59 when the operating handle 29 is released and the rotation of the twisting heads is reversed.

When the operating handle 29-has been pulled forward to its stop 32 the hook II will have released the trigger 63 and engaged the pawl 66,

and on the return movement of the operating handle '29 the carriage 6| will be pulled to the left thereby causing the pigtails to be bent to the left in a manner as shown in Figs. 16 and 1'7. After the pigtails are bent to the left-the insulating sleeve H8 is pushed to the left and over the spliced wires as shown in Fig; 9 and are finally ejected from the machine by ejecting mechanism II9 as shown in Figs. 9, 11, 13 and 14.

spliced in a similar manner. The machine may be shifted during the splicing operations so that ablewire gripping means on said machine for putting a predetermined pitch in the twist of each joint. i

2. A splicing machine comprising a pair of rapidly rotatable members adapted to engage and The other pairs of conductors in the cable are twist together simultaneously two or more pairs of approximately parallel wires, adjustable wire gripping means on said machine for putting a predetermined pitch in the twist of each joint, and means for ejecting the wires from the machine at the finish of the splicing operation.

3. A splicing. machine comprising a pair of rapidly rotatable membersadapted to engage and'twist' together, simultaneously, two or more pairs of, approximately parallel wires, adjustable wire gripping means on said machine for putting a predetermined pitchin the twist of each joint, means for bending the splices parallel to said wires, and means for sliding a previously placed insulating sleeve over the bent splices of the pairs of wires. a

4. A splicing machine comprising a base member, a pair of rotatable twister heads mounted on said base, each twister head adapted to receive andhold the wires, means for, rotating saidtwister heads to simultaneously twist the pairs of wires, means for severing the surplus portion of the wires, and adjustable wire gripping means operable priorto the completion of the twist for putting a predetermined pitch in the twisted portion of the pairs.

5. A splicing machine having a pair of rotatable twister. heads mounted thereon, means for rotating simultaneously said twister 'h'eads, said twister heads provided with" slots therein which receive and hold the wires to be twisted, and means for insulating said joints comprising a single tubular sleeve, said single sleeve adapted to be positioned over the two joints in the wires on the completion of the splice.

6. A splicing machine having a pair of rotatable twister heads mounted thereon, means for rotating simultaneously said twister heads, said twister headsprovided with slots therein which receive and hold the wires to be twisted, and means for insulating said joints comprising a single tubular sleeve, said single sleeve adapted to be positioned over the two joints in the wire on the completion of the splice, and means for ejecting the twisted joints and the enclosing sleeve from the machine.

'7. Means for splicing two pairs of wires together simultaneously, staggering the splices and covering said splices with a single insulating sleeve comprising, a plurality of twisting devices, adjustable wire gripping means for rotating said twisting devices, means operated prior to the completion of the splice for varying the tightness of the splice, means for severing the surplus wire from the joint, and means for slipping an insulating sleeve over the two joints prior to the ejection of the splice from the machine.

8. A machine for splicing together simultaneously twopairs or more of conductors by twisting about each other the conductors of each comprising a pair of rotatable twisting heads which engage and twist simultaneously the pairs of wires, means for severing the surplus portion of the wires, adjustable wire gripping means for putting a predetermined pitch in the twisted portion of the joint, means for bending the twisted portions against the wire, means for slipping a previously placed insulating sleeve over the twojoints, means for ejecting said completed joint from the machine, and means for preventing the ejected joint from coming in contact with the twisting mechanism once it is ejected from the machine.

JAMES W. CHANNELL. 

